Pte 202001 Frank Albert Thomas

• Age: 21
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 25th October 1917
• Commemorated at: Bailleul Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: III.E.90

Frank Albert Thomas was born 17th December 1895 and was baptised Francis Albert Thomas on 02nd May 1897 at St John’s Church, Bootle. He was the son of Thomas Watkin Thomas and his wife Mary (nee Picton) who were married in Holyhead in 1890.

His mother, Mary, was born in Holyhead in 1859, and died 1900 aged 40, she was buried at Kirkdale Cemetery on 28th September 1900.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 6 Dorset Street, Bootle.  His father, Thomas Watkin Thomas is a widower, aged 35, and an able seaman born in Holyhead. His children are listed as; Nellie 9, Maggie 7 and Frank 5. Also present is fathers daughter in law Maggie J. Edwards 30 born in Holyhead.

His father remarried later in 1901 to  Elizabeth Challoner at St Paul's Church, Kirkdale.

Frank was serving with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 202001 when he died of wounds on 25th October 1917, aged 21, during the Third Battle of Ypres. Soldiers Efeects state that he died of wounds at 53 Casualty Clearing Station.

He now rests at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

Bailleul was occupied on 14 October 1914 by the 19th Brigade and the 4th Division. It became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered in it for considerable periods. It was a Corps headquarters until July 1917, when it was severely bombed and shelled, and after the Battle of Bailleul (13-15 April 1918), it fell into German hands and was not retaken until 30 August 1918.

The earliest Commonwealth burials at Bailleul were made at the east end of the communal cemetery and in April 1915, when the space available had been filled, the extension was opened on the east side of the cemetery. The extension was used until April 1918, and again in September, and after the Armistice graves were brought in from the neighbouring battlefields.

BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION contains 4,403 Commonwealth burials of the First World War; 11 of the graves made in April 1918 were destroyed by shell fire and are represented by special memorials. There are also 17 British burials of the Second World War (all 1940) and 154 German burials from both wars (10 of which are Second World War).

During the Second World War the cemetery suffered major bomb damage that necessitated the replacement of nearly 200 headstones after the war.

Both the Commonwealth plot in the communal cemetery and the extension were designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Frank was initially reported wounded in Liverpool Daily Post dated 04th September 1917, then reported died of wounds later in the issue  on 26th November 1917.

Frank Albert is commemorated on the memorial at St Lawrence C. Of E. Church, Kirkdale.

Soldiers effects and pension to his step mother Mary Elizabeth. (S/E state he died of wounds at 53 Casualty Clearing Station)

We currently have no further information on Frank Albert Thomas, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.